====== Menopause ======

The decline in the number viable ovarian follicles, which leads to the menopause, is well documented (see [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menopause|Wikipedia]]), but, from an //evolutionary //perspective the reasons for its prevalence in humans are unknown.

Only a few other mammals* are known to exhibit menopause - including orcas, short-finned pilot whales and chimpanzees.

>Menopause is an evolutionary puzzle since an early end to reproduction  seems  contrary  to  maximising  Darwinian fitness." \\ \\ Source : [[http://faculty.bennington.edu/~sherman/sex/evol%20of%20meno.pdf|BioEssays 23.3]]

More details [[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-37025092|BBC, Aug 2016]]

>From an evolutionary perspective, it's very difficult to explain"

* Note : One possible contributing factor is that many other mammals, in the wild with hostile conditions, simply don't survive long enough.

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Also see :[[content:life_sciences:human_body:ovarian_aging]]

~~stars>3/5~~